Lawsuit over proposed Rosemont casino moving forward

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000 | 5:10 a.m.

The case was assigned Thursday to Cook County Circuit Judge Richard A. Siebel, who scheduled a hearing for Nov. 29.

A group of Lake County developers who want their own casino sued the Illinois Gaming Board, saying the 1999 law was unconstitutional because it stipulated that Emerald Casino Inc. could move the license for its defunct East Dubuque riverboat to Rosemont.

Attorneys for Emerald and the village of Rosemont said Thursday they will ask the judge to dismiss the case.

An attorney for the Lake County group said he would seek court action to stop a vote on the license, if the Gaming Board schedules a vote before the lawsuit is settled.

Gaming officials have said they could vote as soon as Dec. 5, the board's next regularly scheduled meeting.

The lawsuit had been delayed by questions of where it would be heard. The state Supreme Court recently ruled it would be heard in Cook County; Lake County developers had wanted it heard in their county.

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